Working Visit to Copenhagen by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: November 2, 2011

[Muhler]

A clip from TV2 News, which gives us an excellent overview of the event: Tronarvingerne gav en hnd til Afrika - TV 2 Nyhederne

Mary was commended for her summing up of what all this is about. (We are of course somewhat biased here in DK).
Frederik, to my utter delight, spoke in a coherent and clear manner.

- I cannot help asking: How is Mary's English these days?

ADDED: There is some questioning as to the expenses of this visit in contrast to the value.
Well, the British taxpayers may be pleased to learn that at least half the bill is footed by the Danish taxpayers, I being one of them...and I don't complain....
Several millions appears to have been donated as a consequnce of this vist. Let's say one million DKK, after having substracted administration, purchase, transport, curruption and so on.
Okay, one million DKK divided by 6.25 DKK = 160.000.
That's 160.000 small children who can be fed for one day. - Just to put things into perspective.

We were informed that it takes three to four weeks before a malnutriotioned child has regained its normal weight.
160.000 divided by 28 = 5.714.
That's 5.714 children who can go from malnutrition to being healthy at the cost of one million DKK.
(One million DKK = 200.000 US $).

[MARG]

Originally Posted by carlota

as much as i appreciate anyone's efforts to help raise awareness, i can't help but thinking that the money which went into organising, caring for and securing this event would have really saved the life of so many starving children.

it's otherwise nice to see that the media treated the event with care and didn't concentrate on the superficial details.

The publicity will inspire many more people to donate money and save more starving children than the cost of the trip. Just think of the sell-out of any clothing items Catherine is seen in and translate that to her endorsing a charity.

As for the media? Oh no, Sky News was talking about who dressed better and didn't Catherine look tired!

[MRSJ]

I'm just excited to see Will and Kate with the European royals :) I love it! Mary and Kate looked great and a little (lot) of publicity to a charity never hurt.....

[AnnaNotherThing]

I know it might be a horrible thing to say but I will say it anyway...From the videos and photos,I get the impression that Mary was a bit 'starstruck' by Wills & Kate...OMG, it is the son of Diana, the first royal wedding I watched as a kid and Kate is so tall and pretty, I am not worthy...(Jokes people, no rotten tomatoes OK) It was just an impression and maybe I am mistaking Mary natural friendliness and enthusiasm for fawning...

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I cannot help asking: How is Mary's English these days?

Although I still identify Mary's spoken English as evidently Australian (be it with a Nordic lilt), I do notice that when she speaks, she structures her sentences in a way that makes her seems a little (and I do mean a little) unsure about the structure.

Mary is of course fluent in her mother tongue, and should she be exposed to english speaking society on a day to day basis I think we'd see her sentence structure return to what it otherwise would be had have she never moved to Denmark. However speaking Danish every day, and thinking in Danish, means that Mary has to give considerable thought when she speaks both languages and this is reflected when she articulates either language.

[Kit]

I agree Madame Royale I had the same impression concerning Mary's English. But that's perfectly normal I have the same problem when I have to switch between English - French - German. And let's not forget Danish is a very difficult language so being used to it for 7 years or more on a daily basis and then switch to English can make one uncertain about the correct sentence structure.

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Muhler

A clip from TV2 News, which gives us an excellent overview of the event: Tronarvingerne gav en hnd til Afrika - TV 2 Nyhederne

Mary was commended for her summing up of what all this is about. (We are of course somewhat biased here in DK).
Frederik, to my utter delight, spoke in a coherent and clear manner.

You have every right to be proud. Your CP couple did you proud!

Originally Posted by Muhler

- I cannot help asking: How is Mary's English these days?

Fair question. I was a little surprised that Mary seemed to actually be "thinking/translating" to english as she spoke and I thought, uh oh, time for more english speaking practice . . . . you're getting rusty in your mother tongue!

Originally Posted by Muhler

ADDED: There is some questioning as to the expenses of this visit in contrast to the value.
Well, the British taxpayers may be pleased to learn that at least half the bill is footed by the Danish taxpayers, I being one of them...and I don't complain....
Several millions appears to have been donated as a consequnce of this vist. Let's say one million DKK, after having substracted administration, purchase, transport, curruption and so on.
Okay, one million DKK divided by 6.25 DKK = 160.000.
That's 160.000 small children who can be fed for one day. - Just to put things into perspective.

We were informed that it takes three to four weeks before a malnutriotioned child has regained its normal weight.
160.000 divided by 28 = 5.714.
That's 5.714 children who can go from malnutrition to being healthy at the cost of one million DKK.
(One million DKK = 200.000 US $).

Thanks for the financial break-down Muhler, it just needed someone to put it into context for the ever vocal "cup half empty" brigade!

[NGalitzine]

The whole point of the visit was to draw attention to the problems in the Horn of Africa which are no longer getting much in the way of media attention. Judging from networks news coverage on the North American news I would say the visit was successful. Hopefully it will translate into increased media coverage of the crisis, more public awareness, and an increase in donor dollars.

[Tiggersk8]

Oh good grief!! Can't some of you focus on what's important here? UNICEF got badly needed exposure to it's Relief Efforts in East Africa. According to some, their Twitter site crashed due to the mass amount of people checking it out after the coverage of the Cambridges and Crown Prince and Princess hit the airwaves/Internet and that UNICEF has recieved a massive amount in donations for just one day.

That is NOT nothing. Surely there's some site out there for people who hate Kate regardless of what she does. Go and find it so the rest of us can have discussions about what is actually going on w/out the vicious agenda certain posters here seem to have.

Sorry for that, but enough is enough!!

[Madame Royale]

Maybe someone could explain to me why the Crown Princess of Denmark may be takenaback or 'starstruck' by the Cambridge couple?

We anticipate that Mary met William in 2008 at his father's 60th birthday and Catherine, while a highly publicised woman herself, married into the position she now finds herself which is no different to Mary.

Intrigued? I highly doubt it. A friendly hostess? Most certainly.

[Kit]

Maybe someone could explain to me why the Crown Princess of Denmark may be takenaback or 'starstruck' by the Cambridge couple?

We anticipate that Mary met William in 2008 at his fathers birthday and Catherine, while a highly publicised woman herself, married into the position she now finds herself which is no different to Mary herself.

I was just about to write the same thing but you already did it for me. :-) This is certainly not the first time Mary and Fred have met Wills and probably Kate too. Rumour has it Kate was invited to Charles' birthday too so it is highly likely they have already met her.

[Archduchess Zelia]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Maybe someone could explain to me why the Crown Princess of Denmark may be takenaback or 'starstruck' by the Cambridge couple?

We anticipate that Mary met William in 2008 at his father's 60th birthday and Catherine, while a highly publicised woman herself, married into the position she now finds herself which is no different to Mary.

Intrigued? I highly doubt it. A friendly hostess? Most certainly.

You just summed up everything I wanted to write. Also I don't think she was starstruck, just excited to put focus on something that might help Africa. But I think for both Frederik & Mary and for William & Kate it was exciting to meet up and spend some time together.

[Baroness of Books]

Originally Posted by Princess BellyFlop

I also just saw the interview and liked both Will and Kate. From my experience with Toastmasters International (public speaking learning group) I believe that we should not expect 2 people to have the same «speech delivery»: William displays huge confidence and leadership which is consistent with his regular job as a rescuer ans his upbringing. Kate`s performance also shows knowledge of the subject and great sincerity and empathy. She is more demure which is also consistent with her personnality - I always felt that Kate is by William`s side to lovingly support him not to take any light away from him.

I think you called this correctly. And as Kate becomes more adept and at ease at public speaking, she'll be more fluent with her responses. And her concern about the need for greater focus on UNICEF does come through in her delivery. Isn't that supposed to be one of people's greatest fears: to speak in public? Or in this case, before the cameras. Either way, I'm sure it must be terrifying for anyone, and she acquitted herself admirably in this early stage of her public role.

[Terri Terri]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Maybe someone could explain to me why the Crown Princess of Denmark may be takenaback or 'starstruck' by the Cambridge couple?

We anticipate that Mary met William in 2008 at his father's 60th birthday and Catherine, while a highly publicised woman herself, married into the position she now finds herself which is no different to Mary.

Intrigued? I highly doubt it. A friendly hostess? Most certainly.

A friendly hostess is absolutely correct! Remember these 2 couples had lunch first and were able to enjoy each other's company in total privacy. I could imagine that the atmosphere in the Crown Prince Couple's home was very welcoming and enjoyable!
And why would Crown Princess Mary appearing to be smiling and enjoying the event should be interpreted as being "starstruck"! The Duchess of Cambridge was smiling and enjoying the event as well...so wouldn't she be as "starstuck" as Crown Princess Mary?
I could imagine the hailstorm of criticism and condemnation that would have erupted if CP Mary hadn't smile at all!
Thank goodness that the Crown Princess knows how to act like the Queen that she is destined to be!

[ghost_night554]

I dunno but I get the feeling that alot of people will remember the crisis and hopefully want to help. I've already gone ahead and donated some money this afternoon. Also wanted to add they all looked great and happy to see Will and Kate with Fred and Mary and I hope in the future we see them together more often.

Also to Tiggersk8 thank you so much for that lovely post I agree with you whole heartedly

[Baroness of Books]

A great event, kudos to the royal couples and those who planned it to bring more exposure to a needy cause, and thanks also to Tiggersk8 for your comments.

[Tarlita]

On one of our TV channels here they said that Roger Moore [aka james bond once apon a time] also had lunch with them, as he is a representative of UNICEF and has just returned from Africa. So maybe the lunch was not as intimate as we expect. There may have been many others at the lunch also, we don't know about yet.

[Terri Terri]

Originally Posted by Viv

And Countess Alexandra was nowhere to be seen .......

viv

Yeah...I noticed that too! But since this visit was the initiative of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and they made direct contact with the Crown Princely Couple, it is apparent now that Countess Alexandra would not have been there after all. One of the pitfalls of being an ex-member of a royal family. It must be hard to see the patronage that you have represented for so many years having such a huge media event and you aren't able to be present.
But at least UNICEF received a great deal of attention and hopefully, more money for a very worthy cause...and that's what is important.

Originally Posted by Tarlita

On one of our TV channels here they said that Roger Moore [aka james bond once apon a time] also had lunch with them, as he is a representative of UNICEF and has just returned from Africa. So maybe the lunch was not as intimate as we expect. There may have been many others at the lunch also, we don't know about yet.

We may yet find out who was present at the lunch from the Danish magazines.

[Daria_S]

Tiggersk8, and Baroness of Books, thank you for being voices of reason and bringing the focus where it belongs.

And now, a lighthearted moment of the day.

http://ow.ly/i/ks9y

And an article from Express, dealing with today's visit to Copenhagen. Overall, short, sweet and to the point.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...war-on-famine-

[ghost_night554]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge raise awareness on plight of children in East Africa - YouTube